The trial of the Georges Duboeuf family firm accused of tampering with his wine to improve its quality began this week in Villefranche-sur-Saône. The business is charged with mixing grapes from different vineyards to conceal poor results from the 2004 harvest. Duboeuf, 72, appearing in court as the head of the firm, denied wrongdoing and blamed human error but prosecutors claimed his firm was guilty of "fraud and attempted fraud concerning the origin and quality of wines".

Sylvain Dory, a production manager who left the company after discrepancies were found, faces up to two years in jail and a fine of £26,000. Georges Duboeuf Wines, which produces 30 million bottles a year for sale in 120 countries, could be fined up to £130,000.

The case concerns the equivalent of 300,000 bottles of wine produced from Gamay grapes from nine areas of Beaujolais country north of Lyons. Duboeuf's firm is accused of trying to ensure consistent quality after 2004's variable harvest by blending good grapes with bad - a practice forbidden under the "appellation controlée" system. Inspectors' suspicions were aroused after they compared records of grape deliveries to the site managed by Dory.

Tuesday, 23rd August, 2005

Wednesday, 17th August, 2005

Wednesday, 2nd June, 2005

Liquor Licensing Act 1997: It is an offence to sell or supply liquor to a person under the age of 18 years, or to obtain liquor on behalf of a person under the age of 18 years.All transactions in $AUD.
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